Roswell, GA Tree Protection: Heritage & Protected Trees (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required
- before any specimen tree removal
- Approval authority
- Engineering Director
- Fee (permitted removal)
- $500 per tree density unit
- Fee (unpermitted removal)
- $1,000 per tree density unit
Summary
Roswell, Georgia requires written justification, City engineering approval, and a per-tree mitigation fee up to $1,000 before a protected specimen tree can be removed.
No specimen tree may be removed except in accordance with the following requirements. ... Any applicant proposing to remove a specimen tree must apply for a tree removal permit ... the applicant must provide a written explanation as to why the specimen tree cannot be retained on the site. ... If removal of a specimen tree is approved by the Engineering Director, then prior to issuing the tree removal permit, the applicant must contribute to the Roswell Tree Bank an amount of $500 for each tree density unit of the specimen trees removed.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 17 | Unified Development Code: Supplement 5).
Full Breakdown
Roswell's UDC treats large, high-value trees, called specimen trees, as its equivalent of a landmark tree category. No specimen tree may be removed without a tree removal permit and a written explanation of why it can't be saved, including alternative site designs considered. The Engineering Director, after review by the City Arborist, decides whether to approve removal. If approved, the applicant must pay the Roswell Tree Bank $500 per tree density unit removed, or $1,000 per unit if the tree was taken down without a permit first. The rule applies wherever UDC Article 13 review is triggered, covering most non-exempt development citywide.
Violations & Fines
Removing a specimen tree without an approved permit doubles the mitigation fee to $1,000 per tree density unit and exposes the responsible party to UDC Sec. 13.14 penalties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a homeowner just cut down a large old tree in Roswell?
What if a specimen tree is removed without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Roswell
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Heritage & Protected Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Fulton County handle heritage & protected trees.